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Monday, March 28, 2011

DIAGNOSIS DEATH - Richard Mabry - Free Book

I read this book before it released, and it is awesome. I love Richard's medical suspense novels. Welcome, Richard, God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

I feel like I’ve been on a fast ride. Diagnosis Death is my third novel published in the space of twelve months. The fourth, Lethal Remedy, will come out in September, and after that things should slow down. I’m working on proposals for a couple of novels, and waiting to see what doors God will open next.

Tell us a little about your family.

As you know, my first wife passed away in 1999 after forty years of marriage, and I was devastated. But God has blessed me once more with the love of a wonderful woman, and Kay and I have recently celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary. She deserves a great deal of credit for keeping me on an even keel.

We have five grandchildren, three boys and two girls ranging from 12 to 2 years of age, and because they all live in the region, we stay busy with grand-parenting duties. But they keep us young.

I know what you mean. We have two grandsons, two granddaughters, from 25 to 15, and one great grandson, who is alomost 4. Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

Well, it’s taken away some of the time I used to spend reading for pleasure. And it definitely has changed the way I read. Alton Gansky, in one of the first workshops I attended, said, “If you start writing, you’ll never read the same way again.” And he was right. When I read a novel, I’m always aware of how an author draws me into the book and keeps my interest. Unfortunately, I’ve also become much more aware of slip-ups like shifting point of view and use of the passive voice.

What are you working on right now?

I have two projects, one of which is another medical thriller featuring a male protagonist, a physician, and a strong female character, an attorney. He wakes up from a head injury and finds himself accused of murder, but has no idea why. The other is a bit of a departure from my usual “medical suspense with heart,” in which I interweave the stories of three main characters: a female doctor whose marriage is crumbling, a male medical student who’s struggling with life decisions, and a nurse who’s fighting for her life.

They both sound interesting to me. What outside interests do you have?

Since the death of my first wife, a good friend and I have played golf every Wednesday. We’re heretics, because we don’t keep score and have no qualms hitting another ball after a bad shot. Kay and I are active in our church, Stonebriar Community Church, where we are involved in a home fellowship and help facilitate the new member class. And, of course, there’s grand-parenting.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I’ve chosen to set my books in the area I know: North Texas. All take place either in Dallas or in a fictitious smaller city that I’ve put together from experience in my hometown, the city where I attended college, and the suburb where I’ve lived. It certainly cuts down on my research.

If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?

A novelist has to be able to drop clues into the work and at the end put them together, much like a doctor interpreting a history and looking over lab test results. I’d like to spend an evening with Sir William Osler, the father of modern medical diagnosis. I think it would be fascinating to hear some of the pearls he’d impart.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

Wow, just one? I guess it would be that the craft of writing isn’t simple, and once you have mastered the fundamentals it’s going to require hours and hours and hours of writing before it eventually starts to come together. Maybe that would have kept me from being so impatient.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

Every day can present a challenge or a reward, and I have to be prepared for either and accept them both with grace.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Learn the fundamentals from people who communicate them accurately.
Write, write, write. Then have the work critiqued by someone who’s knowledgeable, and revise it.
Be patient. Never submit a book until you’ve polished it as well as you can. You only have one chance with agents and editors.

Tell us about the featured book.

The whispers about Dr. Elena Gardner said “mercy killer.” It starts with her husband’s death in the ICU, continues when another patient under her care dies, and eventually drives her to another city. But a change of scenery doesn’t stop the rumors or the midnight phone calls. Why doesn’t she defend herself? What’s her secret?

Please give us the first page of the book.

She stood by his bedside and waited for him to die.

Outside the room, the machines and monitors of the ICU hummed and beeped, doctors and nurses went about their business, and the hospital smell—equal parts antiseptic and despair—hung heavy in the air.

With one decisive move she flipped the switch of the respirator and stilled the machine’s rhythmic chuffing. In the silence that followed, she imagined she could hear his heartbeat fade away.

She kissed him and exhaled what passed for a prayer, her lips barely moving as she asked for peace and forgiveness—for him and for her.

She stood for a moment with her head bowed, contemplating the enormity of her action. Then she pocketed the empty syringe from the bedside table and tiptoed out of the room.

I'm telling you, Readers, you won't want to miss this one. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website is http://rmabry.com/. I blog twice a week at Random Jottings: http://rmabry.blogspot.com/. And I’m on Facebook and Twitter as RichardMabry.

Thanks for spending this time with us, Richard.

Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.



Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

33 comments:

  1. I love medical thrillers.
    Thanks for the contest.
    Debbie Chapoton
    at Edge of Escape

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  2. Thanks to Lena, I found you when your last book was published. Love your medical thrillers!

    coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com
    NE

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  3. I love Dr. Mabrys' books. He is the best Christian mystery writer and you are never disappointed when you read his fabulous page turners.
    I would love to read this book.
    I live in Canada.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

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  4. Patsy5:48 AM

    This sounds very interestering. Would love to read it.
    from the Bible Belt

    plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

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  5. Lena, I appreciate your letting me visit with your readers. And thanks to Debbie, Robyn, Marjorie, and Patsy for commenting.
    Diagnosis Death was a challenge to write in view of some of my own experiences in the end-of-life areas. I hope your readers enjoy it.

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  6. Wow! Love the 1st page of your book Richard! Love the suspense:) Please enter my name for a chance to win!

    Lorna from Alberta

    lornafaith at gmail dot com

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  7. i loved the only book of Dr. Mabry's that i have read - Code Blue. i would love to win one of his books. Thanks for the chance to win, and for letting us look in Dr. Mabry's life just a little.
    mitzi_wanham[at]yahoo[dot]com
    marianne from Arizona

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  8. thanks for the opportunity to read dr mabry's latest novel...

    karenk (from PA)
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  9. It's been encouraging to me to watch Richard's career take off in the six years since we met in a Mt. Hermon critique group. I'd love to read Diagnosis Death. I live just up the road from Mt. Hermon.

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  10. Thanks to each of you for your nice words. I wish I could give a copy of Diagnosis Death to everyone!
    Katherine, thanks especially for bringing back memories of our time together at Mt Hermon, working to learn the nuts and bolts of writing.

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  11. Please enter me in this giveaway!

    Judylynn in East Tennessee

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  12. Medical thrillers and suspense books is aways great. I'd like read this book.

    letrassantas at hotmail dot com

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  13. I can't wait to read this book!

    lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  14. Pam K.6:43 PM

    The little tidbit from the book made we want to read more and find out what is happening in this book. I've not yet read any of Richard's books but I think I shall put him on my "to read" list.
    I'd love to win this book.
    Thanks.

    pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
    Kansas

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  15. What an intense book! I would really enjoy reading another one of his medical thrillers...
    Many thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
    Illinois

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  16. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  17. I loved Code Blue. It was a fast book to read and kept you guessing down to the end.. I could not put it down. Can't wait to read Diagnosis Death and your other books. Thanks for stopping by to chat and share with us Richard.

    Pls enter me

    From Georgia

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

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  18. I loved the interview with Richard. I also love thrillers of all kinds and Diagnosis Death is right up my alley! I would be honored to win this book and I thank you for the contest.

    Judy of Indiana

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  19. Emily5:28 AM

    Ooh! Can't wait to read this one!
    Please enter me!

    Emreilly303(at)gmail(dot)com

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  20. Debbie5:29 AM

    I haven't read any of his books yet, but I own the first one in this series. They look amazing. I think I need to clear some time for it.

    Dreilly316(at)gmail(dot)com

    NY

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  21. Thanks for the giveaway!
    Please enter me!

    Jreilly316(at)verizon(dot)net

    NY

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  22. I have enjoyed Dr. Mabry's earlier mnedical thrillers and would love to read this one!

    edwina(dot)cowgill(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  23. Wow this book sounds great!
    I cant wait to read it!
    dymesich(at)juno(dot)com
    WI

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  24. Anonymous8:02 AM

    This is the book for my daughter, she loves these kind of books...please enter me in the contest....Mona

    kylady717@cinci.rr.com

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  25. Anonymous8:04 AM

    would love to win this book,,,this is my favorite kind of reading....
    love your books...

    Angela C.

    faithnoellesmom@msn.com

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  26. Wow! Can I take you folks along with me the next time I talk with an editor about a book contract? Your comments are like a tonic. Thanks so much.

    Lena, I appreciate the opportunity to share with your blog readers. Thanks for having me here, and for your friendship.

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  27. I do love a medical thriller!

    dancealert at aol dot com

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  28. Sounds like a great book! Thanks for the chance.

    Nancye in Kentucky
    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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  29. I've read Dr Mabry's first two books in this series and I can only say... AWESOME! Can't wait to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway :)

    Anne, rural NC

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  30. I love medical suspense. I would love to read this. I live in Southern CA.

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  31. Oh my, oh my. I love Medical Thrillers and especially Dr. Mabry's. I've been waiting for Diagnosis Death to come out. I would love to be entered to win a copy. Thank you for the chance.

    Blessings,
    Cindy W. from Auburn, IN

    countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  32. Medical Thrillers are the greatest books. Thanks for the giveaway.
    Blessings,
    Trinity Rose

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  33. Thanks, everyone, for your comments and kind words. I wish everyone could win a copy of Diagnosis Death. But one of you will, and I'll be sending out a signed book as soon as Lena gives me the name and address.
    And if you didn't win, I hope you'll consider picking up the book (either in print or in Kindle form) and reading it.
    Thanks again, Lena, for having me as your guest.

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